diary entry on BUDDHA POOORNIMA
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This is the first in a series of blog posts ahead of the British Library exhibition on Buddhism.
Every full moon day is an auspicious day for Buddhists, but the most important of all is the day of the full moon in May, because three major events in the life of the Gautama Buddha took place on this day. Firstly, the Buddha-to-be, Prince Siddhartha was born at Lumbini Grove on the full moon day in May. Secondly, after six years of hardship, he attained enlightenment under the shade of the Bodhi tree and became Gautama Buddha at Bodh Gaya also on the full moon day of May. Thirdly, after 45 years of teaching the Truth, when he was 80, at Kusinara, he passed away to nibbana, the cessation of all desire, on the full moon day of May. Therefore, Vesak or Wesak – the day of the full moon in the lunar month of Vesakha, which falls this year on May 19 (dates may vary by region) – is a very important day for Buddhists to celebrate the birth, enlightenment and parinibbana of the Buddha.